" You keep on telling me you understand my pain , Luna ," Elaine's voice trembled with barely restrained fury as her gaze locked onto Beatrice . " But tell me , did your mate ever reject you ? Did he turn away from the bond the Moon Goddess created for you , because he chose another ? Because she was pregnant ? " Her words cracked like thunder through the room . No one moved . No one breathed . Elaine's voice rose , sharper now , each question a blade . " Did any of you ever have to sacrifice your mate - your fated - because you were told it might affect the unity and peace of the pack ? Did any of you have to sit and watch as the person who was yours held someone else and promised them forever ? " Her eyes burned , tears threatening but held back with sheer force of will . She turned her gaze on her parents . " Did your parents abandon you when you needed them most ? Did they sit in silence while you were broken , humiliated , cast aside like nothing ? " Finally , her voice broke into a harsh whisper , raw and bleeding . " Did your Alpha strip you of everything ? Your mate ? Your family ? Your place in the pack ? " The room was frozen . For a long moment , there was only the sound of her breathing - ragged , unsteady - filling the silence . " We did not abandon you , Elaine ," her mother said finally , her voice trembling . Lucille's eyes were shining with tears she had not let fall . " Kathy is pregnant with the future Alpha . We had to think of the pack . " Elaine's rage snapped . She spun on her mother , voice rising to a scream . " But what about me ?! " Her words echoed off the walls like a strike of lightning . " Every single one of you hears what the pack members say about me . The whispers . The laughter . The name - calling . Do you think I don't hear it ? Do you think I don't feel it every time I walk through those halls ? " She turned her glare to each of them , one by one . " They call me a w *** e . An interloper . A mistress . When you all know who the real mistress is , who the real interloper is standing right there . " Her finger shot toward Kathy . Kathy flinched , her hands flying protectively over her stomach . " Sister, I- " " Don't you dare ! " Elaine cut her off , her voice shaking with venom . " Not one of you protected me . Not one of you stood up and told the truth . You let them isolate me . You let them call me names . You let me burn in my pain while all of you played happy family ! " 1/3 < Chapter 19 More Rewards > Her gaze snapped back to Michael , and her voice lowered , sharp and deadly . " And you . " She pointed at him , her hand trembling with fury . Michael's jaw tightened , his chest rising and falling as if he were barely containing himself . " What right do you have to act jealous now ? What right do you have to glare at me when I speak with another Alpha ? You forfeited that the day you rejected me . You do not have the right . You are not my mate . " Michael's wolf flickered in his eyes , his control slipping . " Elaine- " But before he could say more , Alpha Efrein's voice thundered . " We might not understand what you feel , Elaine , but the best interest of the pack is always our priority . We do what must be done for its survival . " Elaine laughed then , bitter and hollow , the sound chilling . She stepped forward , her chin high though her hands trembled . " And how do you know I wasn't the best choice for this pack ? Tell me , Alpha . Who gave you the right to decide my worth without ever giving me the chance to prove it ? " Her voice grew stronger with every word , fury and grief combining into a storm . " I've sacrificed more for this pack than any of you . More than you ever did , Alpha . More than Michael . More than any of them . I sacrificed being Luna . We all know it . I should have been the future Luna . The Moon Goddess herself marked me for that role . But I gave it up . I sacrificed who I was when I begged you to let me leave the Beta family , to resign from my duties , because I couldn't breathe here anymore . And what did you do , Alpha ? " Her eyes glistened with unshed tears . " You stripped me of my family name but refused to let me go . Because deep down , you knew I was needed . You knew this pack wasn't complete without me ." She turned to Michael then , her voice breaking . " I sacrificed my mate - my Goddess - given mate - for this pack . And you dare to ask me for more ? " The silence in the room was suffocating , broken only by Kathy's quiet sob . Her voice cracked through the tension , desperate , pleading . " Sister , I am so sorry . Please ... please understand . I never wanted this . But I am already pregnant , and I need Michael . I need him to be with me and our child . Please , forgive us . " Elaine's gaze flicked to her , cold and unyielding . The pain in her chest clawed at her , but she would not let it show . Her mother spoke then , her tone trembling . "We did not abandon you , Elaine . We will always be here for you . But you keep avoiding us . You close yourself off . We don't know how to 2/3 : < Chapter 19 reach you anymore . " More Rewards > Her father nodded , his voice firm but weary . " We know we hurt you , but this is where we are now . We cannot change it . We have to move on . " Elaine's laugh returned , sharp and cutting . " Move on ? Yes . " She lifted her chin , her voice clear and ringing with finality . " We will move on . After the mating ceremony , Alpha - I will be leaving this pack ." The words dropped like a stone into still water , sending ripples of shock through every corner of the room . " No ! " Michael's voice roared , breaking the silence . His control snapped , his wolf flashing in his eyes as he surged forward . " I will not allow it ! " He stepped toward her , his hand reaching out as though to pull her back to him , to claim what he had already discarded . His voice cracked with desperation . " I cannot allow it . " Elaine recoiled , stepping back sharply , her voice like steel . " As I've said , you are no longer my mate . You lost that right . You have no say in my life anymore . " Her words cut deeper than any blade . Michael froze , his hand hanging useless in the air . Elaine's chest heaved as she looked at them all one last time . Her voice trembled , but her conviction was unshakable . " I will leave this pack . If I must be a rogue to have my freedom , then so be it . " The room erupted in silence so heavy it felt suffocating . Faces were pale , eyes wide . None of them moved . None of them spoke . They could not believe what they had just heard . And Elaine - broken , furious , unchained - used their silence as her chance . She turned , her steps sure , and walked out of the room , leaving them stunned in the wreckage of her truth . Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) > St 45 Vote